Clip-on severing device

ABSTRACT

A device for severing which is adapted to be clipped on the blade of a knife. The device comprises a thin strip of metal having two parallel faces bounded by a periphery, and includes a base portion and an offset portion. The base portion has two separate cutting edges, a serrated scraping edge and a sharp slicing edge, both being formed on its periphery. The offset portion includes a sharp cutting edge for peeling of vegetables or fruits. Spring clips, fixed adjacent one face of the thin metal strip, are adapted to clamp the strip against the knife blade. A bar which is sandwiched between the clips and the face of the metal strip extends the length of the offset peeling edge and is spaced peripherally thereof to provide a landing for exerting finger pressure on the device when it is in operative position.

United States Patent Frank M. Hula 5201 Hamm Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44127 [21] Appl. No. 854,436

[22] Filed Sept. 2, 1969 [45] Patented July 20, 1971 [72] Inventor [54] CLIP-ON SEVERING DEVICE 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

52] user 30/142, 30/285 511 mu. ..B26b11/00 so FieldoISearch 30/279,

2,458,090 1/1949 Miller.... 2,938,267 5/1960 Tupper ABSTRACT: A device for severing which is adapted to be clipped on the blade of a knife. The device comprises a thin strip of metal having two parallel faces bounded by a periphery, and includes a base portion and an offset portion. The base portion has two separate cutting edges, a serrated scraping edge and a sharp slicing edge, both being formed on its periphery. The ofi'set portion includes a sharp'cutting edge for peeling of vegetables or fruits. Spring clips, fixed adjacent one face of the thin metal strip, are adapted to clamp the strip against the knife'blade. A bar which is sandwiched between the clips and the face of the metal strip extends the length of the offset peeling edge and is spaced peripherally thereof to v provide a landing for exerting finger pressure on the device when it is in operative position.

CLIP-ON SEVERING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many special knives with multiple severing edges for culinary activities or for the sportsman have been provided in the prior art, an example is shown in US. Design Pat. No. 152,727. However, what is needed in the art is not another knife but is a device which may be clipped onto the blade of any conventional knife and may be used for peeling, slicing or scraping as needed. This clip-on feature eliminates the need for a handle and a blade tang as are needed with conventional knives; with the clip-on feature the device makes use of a previously assembled handle and blade combination. It is also important that a device be provided which is adaptable for use by left-handed people as well as those who are right handed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The inventor has provided such a device which includes a thin, stainless steel strip of metal having a base portion and an offset portion with three distinct severing edges. The thin strip of stainless steel includes two parallel faces bounded by a periphery and on the periphery of the base portion are a sharp slicing edge and an adjacent serrated scraping edge. The upper periphery of the strip is offset and includes a sharp peeling edge facing away from the slicing and scraping edges.

Spring steel clips are affixed adjacent one face of the metal strip and sandwiched between that face and the clips is a metal bar. The bar extends substantially parallel with the peeling edge and is spaced peripherally thereof to provide a landing for the application of finger pressure by one using the device. Pressure applied against the bar holds the device in place on the blade of a knife while the severing edges of the base portion thereof are being used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device of this invention clampedin operative position on the blade ofa knife;

FIG. 2 is an'exploded view of the clip-on severing device of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the device of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a section view taken alongline 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. Sis a sectional view taken along line 5-5of FIG. 3.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT This invention comprises a severing device which is adapted to-be clipped to the blade of a conventional knife which may be used in the kitchen in various peeling, slicing or scraping activities or could be similarly used by the sportsman on a camping trip.

The device of this invention'provides, (l) a sharpened edge for peeling vegetables or fruits, (2) a sharpened-edge for slicing material such as carrots orfish bait, and (3) a serrated edge for scraping vegetables or perhaps for scaling fish. It is anticipated that the device will be clamped to a knife 11 as shown in Fig. 1. Knife 11 could-be aparing knifeor a regular table knife as theknife itself does not'serveany function in the use-of thisdevice except for providinga handle 12 and a projection (blade 13') for attaching theclip on severingdevice 10.

The three cutting or severing edgesof this invention are formed on a thin strip of stainless steel which includes a base portion l4iand an offset portion 16; Theoffset portion l6 is offset" from the-base portion a distance approximately equal to the width of the blade -13 in orderto locate thepeeling edge l8=in a structurally stable plane; If the peeling .edge is offset too farfrom the centerline of the'blade, the assembled knifesevering device tends to twist'in the user's hand. It will be noted in FIGS. 4 and 5 that the peeling'edge 18 is sharpened by taperingits outer offsetface towardthe planeof the base portion-l4. In this manner, the centerline of the pressure exerted during the peeling operation will lie closer to the centerline of the blade 13 than if both offset faces were tapered and the result is better balance during the peeling operation.

The other two severing edges are located on the lower periphery of the base portion 14. A slicing edge 20 and a serrating or scraping edge 22 are shown in aligned, juxtaposed relationship however, they could be spaced apart if desired.

It will be noted that the sharpened peeling edge 18 and the sharpened slicing edge 20 are tapered to a sharp edge from opposite faces of the thin metal strip as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. In each case the resulting severing edge is formed to be substantially coextensive with the face of the strip nearest the blade.

Further, it will be noted that the scraping or serrating edge 22 is blunt, as best seen in Fig. 4; that is, the serrated edge does not have sharpened teeth. It has been found that where the teeth are sharpened or tapered toward their tip they tend to be too weak and often bend during a scraping operation. The blunt end lends strength to the toothed, serrated edge.

The thin metal strip is clamped to the blade 13 by spring steel metal clips 24, 26. The lower end 28 of each clip flares outwardly to provide a smooth, easy entrance for the knife blade when the severing device 10 is being assembled thereon.

A metal bar 30 is clamped between the clips and the thin metal strip by rivets 32 and a landing 34 near the upper end of the bar 30 is adapted to receive finger pressure to hold the device against the blade when the slicing or scraping operations are being performed. As is obvious from a view of Fig. l, downward pressure on the slicing edge 20 or the scraping edge 22 will cause the device to slide upward on the blade. Thus, the operator will conventionally grasp the handle of the knife and place his forefinger on the landing 34'to apply downward pressure against the device to hold it in place. Such pressure is unnecessary during a peeling operation as the force exerted tends to drive the device 1-0 firmly against the blunt edge of the blade 13.

The metal bar 30 could be part of the same stainless steel strip comprising the base 14 and offset portion 16 however, it is preferred to form the bar 30 as a separate piece. This provides a positive stop for the knife blade as itslips between the face of the metal strip and the clips. Notein Fig. 1 that the bottoms 36 ofthe end sections 38'0f the bar abut the blunt edge of the blade 13.

Another important feature of this invention is its reversibility. As shown in Fig. l, the peeling edge 18 is adapted for use by aright-handed person. In order to adapt the device for a left-handedperson, one would simply reverse the assembly by flipping the device over to the other side of the knife blade, that is, tuming'the device so the spring clips 24, 26 are on the far'side of theknife blade rather than the near side as shown in Fig. 1. Clearly, the slicing edge 20 and the serrated edge 22 may be used by either'rightor left-handed persons without any flipping or'reassembling of the device on the blade.

Fig. 3 shows the serrated edge 22 and the slicing edge 20 in substantially a straight line. It is obvious that this structure could be modified by angularly disposing the two severing edges so that the junction of-the two would be at the point of an'angle:

I'claim:

l. A severing device comprising,

a thin strip of 'metal having two parallel faces bounded by a periphery'andin'cludin'g a b ase'portion and an offset portion,

the'base portion having-both a sharp slicing edge and a serrated scraping edge on its periphery,

a'sharp peeling'edge on the offset portion,

means for attaching the strip'to a'blade of a knife, and

meansfor receiving finger pressure to retain the device in stationary position on the blade during use.

2. The device of claiml wherein the means for attaching the strip'to the-blade of a knife comprises-spring clips attached to one face of the strip and adapted to receive the blade between that face and the clips.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the offset portion is offset toward the clips by approximately the thickness of the blade.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the means for receiving finger pressure is a bar spaced peripherally of the peeling edge on the offset portion. Y

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the bar extends the length of the offset peeling edge between two clips,

the clips being riveted to said strip of metal, one rivet being near each end of the offset peeling edge, the bar being sandwiched between the clips and the strip of metal. V 6. The device of claim 1 adapted to be attached along one side of the blade,

the offset portion being offset toward the blade approxima'tely the thickness thereof.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the means for attaching the strip to the blade comprises spring clips, one clip being fixed near each end of the offset peeling edge and adapted to clamp the blade between the face of the strip and the clips.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein thegmeans for receiving finger pressure is a bar spaced peripherally-of the offset peeling edge. 1

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the bar is affixed to the strip by rivets, one rivet near each end of the offset peeling edge.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the means for attaching the strip to a blade comprise spring clips. 

1. A severing device comprising, a thin strip of metal having two parallel faces bounded by a periphery and including a base portion and an offset portion, the base portion having both a sharp slicing edge and a serrated scraping edge on its periphery, a sharp peeling edge on the offset portion, means for attaching the strip to a blade of a knife, and means for receiving finger pressure to retain the device in stationary position on the blade during use.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for attaching the strip to the blade of a knife comprises spring clips attached to one face of the strip and adapted to receive the blade between that face and the clips.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein the offset portion is offset toward the clips by approximately the thickness of the blade.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein the means for receiving finger pressure is a bar spaced peripherally of the peeling edge on the offset portion.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein the bar extends the length of the offset peeling edge between two clips, the clips being riveted to said strip of metal, one rivet being near each end of the offset peeling edge, the bar being sandwiched between the clips and the strip of metal.
 6. The device of claim 1 adapted to be attached along one side of the blade, the offset portion being offset toward the blade approximately the thickness thereof.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein the means for attaching the strip to the blade comprises spring clips, one clip being fixed near each end of the offset peeling edge and adapted to clamp the blade between the face of the strip and the clips.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for receiving finger pressure is a bar spaced peripherally of the offset peeling edge.
 9. The device of claim 8 wherein the bar is affixed to the strip by rivets, one rivet near each end of the offset peeling edge.
 10. The device of claim 9 wherein the means for attaching the strip to a blade comprise spring clips. 